A WONDROUS CITY
Groningen. The University, but also
countless streets, houses, bridges and
city squares that harbour memories.
Well-known former UG students talk
about their special place.
ELLIS ELLENBROEK
ELMER SPAARGAREN
PORTRAIT LENNY OOSTERWIJK
‘I think the level got
too high for Ben’
M
Ben only played
a few matches. After six months we had to play
y cousin Ben and I were in the same class for
pla
on Wednesday
afternoons instead of Friday evenings. For Ben,
twelve years – six years at primary school
hool in
Wedne
Wednesday
Barger-Compascuum and six years at high
Wednesd afternoon was for studies – that was his clear priority.
But to be honest, I think the level got too high for him. I’m talking
school in Emmen. Then in 1969 we both went
you realize. I don’t want to push myself forward,
to Groningen to study. He opted for chemistry, while I chose
about football,
fo
but if you
maths.
yo ask me, I was the better player. I continued to play for
I was a serious student and in those days sport was the
e only
a while in two futsal teams. Ben was pretty enthusiastic, always
outlet. In summer we played football with a group in the
e park.
on the go.
go In Barger-Compas, where he would usually go on the
Later I played for Forward and I said ‘yes’ when Ben asked
sked me
weekend, he also played in a lower league.
to play futsal. The ACLO sports organization launched an
Although Ben stopped playing football in Groningen,
internal competition in the early seventies. Ben put
Team Feringa continued for years. We were promoted
forward a team of chemistry students – I was the only
to the first division. The players were always
non-chemist. There were about seven of us.
changing. People forgot who named the team,
The teams had the craziest names: Archibald
but I think the team mates who read this will
Flopping Doodles, the Yellow Lions. We kept the
Herman Feringa (66); cousin of Ben
remember. I’m delighted to see Ben excel in an
name ‘Team Feringa’, which Ben had used when
Feringa; retired teacher of mathematics
entirely different ‘first division’ – namely science.
he signed us up.
at Lyceum De Grundel in Hengelo; studied
mathematics from 1969 to 1977 in
Groningen (graduating with distinction);
special place: the sports centre where he
played in the ‘Team Feringa’ futsal team.
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